Irish Times in plea for support for mainland football

[fergalr]

Don't British Chelsea supporters hate the Irish supporting Chelsea or something? I've heard this a no. of times - something to do with the Blues brothers. I know its not the majority but there is suppose to be a real hatred for Irish fans supporting their club!

That blues brothers stuff is largely in the past and it was only ever a tiny minority. I've never had any hassle over there and I'm always struck by how many Irish accents you hear around you.

[Raheny Red]

Yeh I had a slight feeling that it was probably from the 80's and 90's when it was at its worst.

[Ronnie]

This is going off topic but there are a fair few Irish Chelsea fans of a certain age (ahem) dating from the successful mid sixties to early seventies era.

To me an English club is an English club and I don't see why there should be any distinction drawn between Irish people who support one English team over another.

Its just a personal opinion, but unless you're very busy with a real life then its quite feasible to support both a local team and a foreign team.

Thats all fine provided that is the case. But in this country we have so called soccer supporters who will not attend and support their local team but will declare devout support for a British club. That is what is damaging in Ireland.
It's a lot easier to support some big British club - just switch on the box and buy the jersey.

I mean our Taoiseach is a self confessed Man U fan, we have rabid republicans supporting Celtic as a badge of honour - trying to tell me that Celtic is more Irish that the 22 in our league!

[CharlesThompson]

Said many time but Irish people are event junkies so will latch onto any successful teams with irish players in the UK. Supporting any team 12 months a year that involves getting off the couch is not the irish way...

Exactly!! It's OUR problem. We're just not feckin' Oirish enough! In fact, we're nearly feckin' British. Supportin' local teams, what next? Mushy peas and steak and kidney pie?

[CollegeTillIDie]

I suspect that that piece was written with tongue firmly pierced through both cheeks.

Irish people will never support Middlesborough in any great numbers. Middlesborough will never make any European Super League. Hence why the 2 non-occurences can be juxtaposed for 'comic' effect.

As they would say in Liverpool "Calm down !"

This is the same broadsheet newspaper that gives minimal coverage to the EL Premier Division AND NO COVERAGE AT ALL of the First Division.
What frigging country do they think they are living in? Calm down My Eye!

[CollegeTillIDie]

It's a lot easier to support some big British club - just switch on the box and buy the jersey.

I mean our Taoiseach is a self confessed Man U fan, we have rabid republicans supporting Celtic as a badge of honour - trying to tell me that Celtic is more Irish that the 22 in our league!

Capped it in a nutshell , and for the record Linfield , Glentoran and Portadown are more Irish than Celtic cause they play in the Irish FA Cup the Irish League etc.

[fergalr]

Thats all fine provided that is the case. But in this country we have so called soccer supporters who will not attend and support their local team but will declare devout support for a British club. That is what is damaging in Ireland.
It's a lot easier to support some big British club - just switch on the box and buy the jersey.

I mean our Taoiseach is a self confessed Man U fan, we have rabid republicans supporting Celtic as a badge of honour - trying to tell me that Celtic is more Irish that the 22 in our league!

Just to be clear - I don't disgaree with a word you're saying. I only weighed in cos there was a suggestion that it made a difference as to which foreign club one supported.